Safety attachment for moving-picture apparatus



Oct. 29, 1929. SZELIGA 1,733,433

SAFETY ATTACHMENT FOR MOVING PICTURE APPARATUS Filed April 29, 1926 sSheets-Sheet 1 gvwemboz V Z 9%?" WITNESS! 5;); f

3 Sheets-Sheet A. SZELIGA Filed April 29, 1926 SAFETY ATTACHMENT FORMOVING PICTURE APPARATUS Oct. 29, 1929.

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A. SZELIGA Oct. 29, 1929.

SAFETY ATTACHMENT FOR MOVING PICTURE APPARATUS Filed April 29, 1926 3Sheets-Sheet Patented Oct. 29, 1929 ANTON SZELIGA', OF NEW YORK, N. Y.,ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO FREDERICK 'IIGHY,

PATENT OFFICE OF YORK, N. Y.

SAFETY ATTACHMENT FOR MOVING-PICTURE APPARATUS Application meal April29, 1926. Serial no. 105,459.

My invention relates to an attachment for moving picture apparatus andmore particularly to such devices which are used in .conjunction withthe projecting'machine to prevent fires or explosions due to theinflammability of the film employed in said apparatus. As it is knownfilms used in combination with moving picture exhibiting machines arehighlyinflammable and as a general rule fires which have taken place inmoving picture theaters or halls Where such exhibitions take placeoriginated in the picture exhibitingmachine itself, the film having beeninflamed either by the sourceof light employed in. the

machine or by external means through the v neglectand carelessness ofthe operator. The objects of the present invention are to provide anattachment of the character above described capable of beingmanufactured at 90v a low cost and which can be easily, quickly andcheaply applied to all the standard and existing forms of moving pictureexhibiting machines and at' the same time will be foolproof, positiveand unfailing in its'operation, and as soon as the film becomes ignitedautomatically severs the same and instanta neously cuts out the burningsection of the film and stops the motor actuating the film feedingmechanism, thereby preventing the spread of the fire to the severed andseparated portions of the unwound and rewound pictures of the film andother inflammable portions within the operators booth.

Another object of the invention is to construct and arrange the'different elements comprising the attachment whereby the actuating partsare held in the operative and proper position and the film is properlyadjusted and threaded through the exhibiting machine only when theenergizing electrical current is properly passing through the mechanismon a closed circuit, thereby eliminating all questions of personalequation and assures that the safety attachment will perform itsfunctions under all conditions for Y which it is designed independent ofthe failure of proper inspection and adjustment of the machine bytheoperator.

Other objects and advantages of applicants invention will appear fromthe detailed description of the several parts, the mode of assemblingthe same and manner of cooperation to be presently explained.

The invention consists of structural characteristics and relativearrangement of ele-.

ments to be hereinafter more fully disclosed and particularly pointedout in the appended claims. a

In the three sheets of drawings in which similar reference charactersindicate the same parts in the several figures: Figure 1 is afragmentary and side elevation, partly in section of a pictureexhibiting machine provided with the attachment comprising the presentinvention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the attachment partly in section and withthe cover of the casing removed.

Figure 3- is a side elevation partly in section. v 1

Figure 4 is a; side elevation opposite to that shown in Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a section taken on line VV of Figure 4, and

Figure 6 is a diagram of the electrical circuits showing the manner ofwiring up the attachment.

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings 10 is the feed or upper reelmounted in the usual feed reel or upper magazine 11. 12 is the uppersteady-sprocket and 13 the film steady drum or filmsteadier whichcooperate with the presser or friction rollers or idlers 14. 15 is thefilm'gate cooperating with the tension spring 16, said ate 15 beingprovided with a shutter 17 ,as s own. I 18 is the-intermittent sprocketand 19 the lower steady feed sprocket which cooperate with the lowerfriction rollers or idlers 20. The lower magazine 21 is provided withthe take up reel 22. 23, 23 are upper and lower film shields.

The foregoing elements are of the usual and standard type used inconnection with projecting or motion picture machines and form no partof the present invention.

Attached preferably at the bottom of the upper magazine 11 and at thetop of the lower magazine 21 is a casing 24- containing the mechanism ofthe safety attachment of the present invention to be presentlydescribed. Said casings 24 are provided with upper and lower openings 25and 26 and cooperating film guide rollers 27 for purposes to behereinafter disclosed.

F is the film which passes from the upper 'or feed reel 10, through theupper opening 25 of the upper casing 24, thence through the upper casing24 and its lower opening 26 and between. guide rollers 27. Said endlessfilm F is then passed forward and backward around the upper steadysprocket roller of the idlers 20, and thence downwardly between theupper guide rollers 27 through theupper' and lower openings 25 and 26 ofand through the lower casing 24 and between the lower guide rollers 27on to the take'up reel 22, as .clearlyshown and needs no furtherexplanatiom.

The safety attachment comprislng the present invention, as will be seenby reference to'Figures 2, 3, 4 and 5, consists of a base plate'28 onwhich is mounted a standard or post 29. On the upper end of said post orstandard 29 is ivoted by means of screw pintle' 30, an oscil ating catch31, havin at one end a hook or curved recess 32, as s own in Figures 3and4, while the other end of the oscillating or pivoted catch isprovided with a depending arm or extension 33 for pur poses to bepresently described.

34 isan electro-magnet also fixed to em base28, having a core 35'and anarmature 36, said armature 36 being pivoted at 37 to an uprightorbracket 371, w 'le' its other or movable end 38 is adapted tobeattracted by the 39 w ose head freclprocates or has slight l movement inan elongated slot 40 formed in the depending arm or. extension 33,, asshownn'Figures 2, 3 and4 and for purposes tobe hereinafter explained,

. At the opposite end' of the base plate 28 from that on which theelectro-magnet 38 is secured is fastened by means of screws 431,

l 431 a casing 441 having ends 451 and 46Land 49 incylinde-r 47 toeflect guided or supported by means of screw 1 to the 5m pivoted end orpoint 37 opposite to eachother and register with a narrow slot oropening 50 formed in the end 461 flush with the edge of the base plate28 as shown in Figures 2 and 5. v

The opposite end 451 ofthe casing 441 is provided with a circularopening or hearing 51, through which'is inserted a stub shaft 52 havingformedor secured on its inner end a disk 53' to which is: attached athin cutting blade 54, semi-cylindrical in cross-section and of the samecurvature as the interior surface of the hollow cylinder 47 anditsslanting cutting edge adapted to closely pass over the lower openingor slot 49 of the cylinder 47, as clearly shown in Figures 2 and 3, andfor purposes to be later explained.

56 is a rocker arm or lever secured to the outer endof the stub shaft 52bymeans of a pin 57, see Figures 1, 4 and. 5, said arm or lever beingprovided preferably with an ad ustable weight 58, and so arranged anddisposed that in the oscillation of said. lever or rocker arm 56 fromthe vertical position shown in full lines to the position shown indotted lines in F igure 4g the shaft 52 with the attached disk 53 andcutting blade 54 will be partially rotated and the cutting edge 55madeto pass over the lowerslot or opening a shearing cut, as

will be readily understood. Supported or at- Y tached to said arm orlever 56 is a spring actu-' a tcdcatch or pin 59 movable in a slot 60and ,normally held in its upper position, as shown in Figure 5, by meansof a spring 61 attached to the sliding bar 62 carrying at its lower endthe. pin 59, said pin 59 being so constructed, arranged and adapted tobe engaged by the hooked end or curved recess 32 at one end of theoscillating catch 31, and said hooked end 32 capable of being releasedfrom the pin 59 by the movement of the depending arm or I. extension 33towards the standard 29 due to core 35 of the electro-magnet 34, and.said end V the action of the coil spring 63, said spring iaving one'endsecured to said extension 33 441, as shown in Figures crating in themanner and to be presently described.

64 is a spring bufier secured near one edge of the base plate 28 and inthe path of the rocker arm or lever 56, see Figures 2 and 3, so as toenable said spring buffer 64 to take up the impact of said lever 56 whendropped and assume the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 4.

Under one casing 24 and preferably attached to underside of the base 28of the upper safety attachment is provided a section or block ofinsulating material. 65, through which is passed and secured two 3 and4, and opfor the purposes and its other end to the end 451 of the casingterminals or connectors 66'and 67 for attaching the conductors C ofelectricity for energizing the electro-magnet 34, as shown in Figure 3,said terminals passing with clearance through properly disposed openings68 ing post 29 and pin 30 due to the action of the and 69 in theadjacent portion of the base lilting catch.

28. Attached .to the underside of said insulating material 65 and bymeans of nuts 70, 70," are the fixed and movable conducting elements 71and 72. respectively which comprise the thermostatic bar of any form ofheat controlled means for the control of the electric circuit and saidmovable or expand ing and contracting element 72 is preferably ofU-shape, as shown, and having its free end '7 3 normally resting on andin contact with the stationary element 71 and adapted to expand whenheated and elevate the free end 73 from contact with said element 71, aswill be readily understood. Said expanding and contraeting'element 72 ofthe thermostatic bar is preferably made of a compositionknown as theWilco thermostatic bar metal, and is'protected from displacement orinjury by means of a cover 74, having an opening '75, which opening willpermit the heat of any accidental fire or'explosion in proximity to saidcover and safety attachment toinstantaneously enter and expand saidmovable and closed circuit controlling element 72. i

The upper and lower safety attachments are preferably connected up inseries, as

shown diagrammatically in Figure 6, in

which341 and 342 represent respectively the energizing coils of theelectro-magnets of the upper and lower safety attachments, and 343 isthe thermostatic bar which normally closes the circuit under control ofa manually opcatch.

erated switch 344, and while I prefer and have shown and described anupper. safety attachment with a thermostatic bar control and -a lowersafety attachment without a thermostatic bar control, a single fetyattachment with a thermostatic bar control as shown in the upper safetyattachment will carry out the essential features of the pres-- entinvention. Y I 76 is a leaf spring attached by screws77, 77, to the topof the oscillating catch 31, and 78 is a'pin acting as a stop for saidoscillating The manner of using theinvention is as follows: v

The switch 344 being closedthecurrent will flow through the elements 71and '72 of the thermostat by way of the terminal con nectors 66 and 67into the conductors and the coils of the upper and lower electro-magnets34, 34, and hence energize their cores 35 so that their armatures 36will be attracted/and held in the position shown in Figures 2 and 3. Inthis position of the armature 36 the recessed end 45of the finger v44attached to and held by said armature 36 will engage the The free end ofthe rocker arm or lever 56 is now rotated with its stub shaft 52 as anaxis and raised from its lowest position, shown in dotted lines inFigure 4, until the spring actuated pin 59 carried by said arm'56 isforced and rides over the beveled free end of-the oscillating catch 31and drops back into and is seated in the curved recess 32 and held'inthis'position by the action of the leaf spring 76 abutting against theadjacent edge of the arm 56, as shown in Figure 4.

After the arm 56 has been raised and locked in the position, as justdescribed, the-attached and'oscillating cuttingblade 54 will haveuncovered the lower slot 49 with its edge 55 adj acent thereto. and aswill be readily seen by reference'to Figures 2 and 3 there is producedby such position of parts a direct, narrow and continuous passagewayextending through the one side and top of the casing 24, through thebase 28 due to opening 26, end 461 by means of the narrow slot 50, thetop and bottom sections of the hollow cylinder 47 due to the alinedslots 48 and 49, where-' by a flat endless'sheet of material as a movingpicture film can be inserted laterally and through one side of thesafety attachment andquickly into said passageway and withoutdisturbing-in any way the adjusted posicomprising the safety attachment,or its casing.

After a suflicient length of the film F has been unreeled from the upperor feed reel 10 to be laterally inserted through the slitted openingformed in the upper safety attach- -ment 24, as explained above, the endof the reel -is laced or properly adjusted ,around and with respect tothe guide rollers 27, steady sprocket 12, upper idlers 14, steady drum13, film gate 15, tension spring 16, intermittent sprocket 18, idlers20, feed sprocket 19, guide'rollers 27 as is the. common practice .insuch machines and then through the lower tion or arrangement :of any ofthe elements safety attachment 24 by laterally inserting the end of thefilm F in the continuous slit or passageway in the same manner aspreviously explained with reference to the up er safety attachment. andthe end of the film is then attached to and started on the take upreel'22 w'ithin the lower magazine 21 and all the parts are adjusted sothat the film F and coacting elements assume the position as illustratedin Figurel.

I The several parts of the moving picture ap- 1 paratus and the safetyattachments having been arranged and adjusted, as shown in Figure -1,and the motor started to feed the film F from the upper or feed reel 10through the machine past film gate 15 on to the take up reel 22, shouldany unforeseen condition arise to ignite the film F, the heat of theburnin film would be immediately conveyed throu the opening 75 to theexpanding member 2 of the thermostatic bar and said expansion wouldcause the end 73 to break contact with the stationary element 71 andhence instantly and automatically open the closed circuit and deenergizethe cores 35 and release the armatures 36 and owing to the action of thecoil spring 63 the catch 31 would simultaneously rock on its pivot pin30 and release its hooked end or curved recess 22 from the pin 59 andpermit the rocker arm or lever 56 under the action of the spring 7 6 andits weight 58 to immediately drop into the position shown in dottedlines in Figure 4, and in so doing carry the cutting edge 55 of theblade 54: over the lower slot 49 and sever the film F and prevent anyfurther portion of -the film being conveyed into the operators booth tofeed further fuel to the fire and hence instantly stops the spread ofthe fire to either the upper or lower magazines, as will be readilyunderstood, and the only portion of film burned was the section betweensaid upper and lower ma azlnes.

11 view ofthe present improvements operated on a closed circuit and saidattachment elements must be all adjusted and set on such a closedcircuit before the film can be properly threaded, through the movingpicture machine and its cooperating safety attachment, there is nopossibility of an operator being able to start the movement of the beingfilm through the machine unless the safety ati tachment has beenpreviously correctly and which also fully adjusted to immediately set inoperation the filmcutting elements of the safety attachment in case of asudden rise of temperature in the operators booth and hence eliminatesall the elements of personal equation and makes the attachment not onlyefiicient and absolute but fool proof.

It will also be seen that should the operator suspect that something iswrong or suspect the ori in of a fire or'desires to instantly stop thefeeding of the film he may break the closed circuit by operating theclose at hand manual switch 344, as will be readily understood,

stops the actuating motor.

From the foregoing description of the construction and arrangement ofparts, mode of assembling the same and their operation, it will be seenthat all the objects and advantages recited in the statement ofinvention have been fully, efiiciently and cheaply carried out, andwhile the preferred form has been shown and described, it is to beunderstood that many changes will suggest themselves without in any wayvarying the essential features of construction or departing from the.spirit of the invention as expressed in the claims.

safety sage of a film, an oscillating film cutting element within saidcylinder, electrically con trolled means for normally holding inactivesaid film cutting element, a closed circuit for energizing the means fornormally holding inactive said film cutting element, and heat controlledmeans for opening said closed circuit.

2. In a safety attachment for moving picture projecting apparatuscomprising a hollow cylinder having aligned slots for the passage of afilm, an oscillating film cutting element within said cylinder,electrically controlled means for normally holding inactive said filmcutting element, a closed circuit for energizing the means for normallyholding inactive said film cutting element, and heat controlled meansfor controlling said closed circuit.

3. In a safety attachment for moving picture projecting apparatuscomprising a hol low cylinder having aligned slots for the passage of afilm, an oscillating film cutting element within said cylinder soconstructed, arranged and adapted to permit an endlessfilm to be passedtherethrough, electrically controlled means for normally holdinginactive said film cutting element, a closed circuit for energizing themeans for normally holding inactive said film cutting element, and heatcontrolled means for automatically controlling and opening said closedcircuit.

4:. In a safety attachment for moving picture projecting apparatuscomprising a hollow cylinder having a pair of slots arranged inalinement, an oscillating film cutting element within said hollowcylinder and ada ted to pass over one of said slots, electrica lycontrolled means for normally holding inactive said film cuttingelement, a closed circuit for energizing the means for normally holdinginactive said film cutting element, and heat controlled means forcontrolling said closed circuit.

5. In a safety attachment for moving picture projecting. apparatuscomprising an upi per magazine an a lower magazine and means for feedinga film from said upper to said lower magazine, a hollow cylinder havingaligned slots for the passage of a film, an

oscillating film cutting element within said T cylinder and interposedbetween the upper and lower magazines and in'the path of theelectrically controlled means for normally holding inactive said filmcutting element, a closed circuit for energizing the means for normallyholding inactive said film cutting element and heat controlled means forcontrolling said closed circuit.

6. In a safety attachment'for moving picture projecting apparatuscomprising an upper magazine and a lower magazine and means for feedinga film from said upper to said lower magazine, hollow cylinders havingaligned slots for the passage of a film, two oscillating film cuttingelements within said cylinders and interposed between the 7. In a safetyattachment'for moving picture projecting apparatus comprising an upa alower magazine and per ma azine and means or feeding a film from saidupper to said lower magazine, two film cutting elements interposedbetween the u per and lower magazines and in the path 0 the film,

a hollow cylinder having a pair of slots arranged in alinement toreceive said film and a surrounding ments, electrically controlled meansfor normally holding inactive v ments with respect to one of said slotsin each of said hollow cylinders, a closed circuit energizing the meansfor normally holding $0 inactive said'film cutting elements and heatcontrolled means for controlling and automatically opening said closedcircuit. a

8. In a safety attachment for moving picture projecting apparatuscomprising an up- 85 per magazine and a lower magazine and means forfeeding a film from said upper to said lower magazine, ments interposedbetween the upper and lower magazines and in the path of the film, eachof said cutting elements consistingof a hollow cylinder provided withdiametrically opposed slots and a cutting blade within said cylinder andpassing over oneof said slots, electrically controlled means fornormally holding inactive said film cutting elements, a closed fornormally holding inactive said film cuttin tergosed in the circuit forcontrolling and automaticall opening said closed circuit.

9. In a sa ety attachment for moving picture projecting apparatuscomprising an upper ma azine and aLlower magazine and means or feeding afilm from said upper each of said film cutting ele-- for circuit forenergizing the means elements and heat controlled means into said lowermagazine, a film cutting element closed circuit for energizing the meansfor normally holding inactive said film cutting element and. heatcontrolled means for controlling said closed circuit. .7

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature.

ANTON SZELIGA.

said film cutting eletwo film cutting ele- J

